CVE 2015: Stakeholders laud initiative as vista for growth

Stakeholders at Ikeja Computer village, the nation’s largest technology market, have lauded the Computer Village Expo 2015 Thought Leadership Forum, saying it is a new vista for growth in the market.
Speaking at the maiden edition of Computer Village Expo 2015, which attracted key stakeholders in the ICT sector, media and Corporate Nigeria, President of Phones and Allied Products Dealers Association, PAPDAN, Mr. Iyke Nwosu, said the market has become a major regional hub for the sales and distribution of mobile devices.
“We have more than 20 million phones being sold from the Computer Village monthly and presently, the market is not the same as it was before. Sales are dropping day-by-day,” the PAPDAN president told the forum.
He said the ideas and opportunities from Computer Village Expo 2015 will hopefully usher in a new beginning.
According to him, “we should look for ways to ensure that people from the West Coast attend an expo like this so that it will be easier for them to come here and do business with us.”
MD/CEO of Mojoy Computers, Mrs. Nike Shittu, said the quick intervention of the federal government is needed for the development of the largest market in the country.
“We have the population, wealth, GDP, sources and resources. We have not even explored anything in the Computer Village. All we need are good policies to ensure the development of the market.”
According to her, “we use to have a minimum of 10 to 15 thousand units of computer sales on a monthly basis. The issue now is that the place needs re-branding. Apart from selling computers, I see this place as our own Silicon Village.’’
Shittu called for collaboration among business owners in the market, so as to attract foreign investors and buyers within and outside the shores of Africa.
“Computer Village is crying for help. People come from other African countries to do business with us in the past, but the situation is not the same now. So, let us work together in unity so that Computer Village would be the best ICT cluster in the world,” Shittu added.
The Managing Director of Pacific Solution, Mr. Ahmed Ojikutu, said resuscitation of the market is his major vision. “According to financial reports, ICT is the second contributor to Nigeria’s GDP and Computer Village as the home of ICT will be of a great help to the country’s economic development.”
According to Ojikutu, “Computer Village is not changing because when you do the same thing the same way, you get the same result. We need to adapt to the current trend.”
According to him, if he eventually emerges president of the umbrella association of Computer Village, the market will become the number one ICT hub in Nigeria and Africa.”
Shittu, one of the two contenders for CAPDAN presidency, said “I will rebrand, ensure security of buyers and sellers, re-orientate business owners and I will make sure that Computer Village becomes a place where everyone is united, work and live together as one.”